Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is imitation?

Answer 1

The action of using someone or something as a model and copying that behaviour

Question 2

What is modelling?

Answer 2

Imitation of the behaviour of a role model



Question 3

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 3

Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs via observing someone’s else and learning from their experiences and consequences.

Question 4

Key assumptions of social learning theory

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5

Answer 4

SLT believe start learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly by careless conditioning

Learning occurs indirectly by observing and imitating other people - Vicarious reinforcement

Mediational processes are essential for learning (4)

We observe for models and imitate their behaviour (modelling)

Believe in using controlled lab experiments - objective and scientific

Question 5

Outline and evaluate social learning theory 1

AO1

Learning occurs indirectly through vicarious reinforcement.



Answer 5

Albert Bandura agreed with behaviourists that much of our behaviour is learnt directly from experience however always propose that learning occurs indirectly

through observation and imitation of a role model - this is known as modelling the role model

The concept of learning other peoples experiences are consequences is known as vicarious reinforcement your behaviour is awarded this more likely to be imitated

Question 6

Outline and evaluate social learning theory 2

AO1

Mediational processes

Answer 6

Social learning theorists, unlike behaviourists, believe there are four mediational processes (cognitive processes) that lie between the S + R

These are Attention retention motor reproduction and motivation

it is understood that without all four of these learning cannot happen

Question 7

Outline and evaluate social learning theory 3

AO1

Banduras experiment

Answer 7

The main supporting evidence we have SLT is the work of banduras who conducted an experiment with children to demonstrate observational learning and how we often learn by imitating those be considered for models

The children observed aggressive and non-aggressive behaviour towards the Bobo doll and their behaviour towards the Bobo doll was recorded

Pandora found those in the aggressive condition - behaviour was far more aggressive than those not

Question 8

Outline social learning theory

AO1

Answer 8

Learning occurs indirectly via vicarious reinforcement

Mediational processes

Banduras experiement



Question 9

Phoebe put on her mums lipstick and mascara using SLT explain why Phoebe must be putting on make up

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Answer 9

Pheobe identifies with her mother sees her as a role model model
Could be due to gender
IDENTIFICATION

Phoebe observed her mother putting on make up and imitate her behaviour
MODELLING

Phoebe must’ve seen her mum get compliments( positively reinforced) resulting in Phoebe more likely to imitate the behaviour as she would like to get rewarded
VICARIOUSLY REINFORCEMENT

MEDIATIONAL PROCESS
attention to make up
Retention of how
motor reproduction be able to do it herself
motivated because she thinks she looks good

Question 10

What is modelling

Answer 10

Refer to process of copying the behaviours of the role model

Question 11

Give two types of models that we identify with and imitate

Answer 11

Live models parents teachers friends
Symbolic models anyone in the media

Question 12

Which factors may influence whether a person is likely to be selected as a model and imitated

Answer 12

Age similar to our own
popularity 
similarity
attractiveness
gender

Question 13

Key difference of social learning theory from behaviourism

Answer 13

Mental processes cognitive mediational processes involved in learning between S + R that allow us to think about what we’re going to do before we do it

Question 14

How do social learning theorists study human behaviour

Answer 14

Lab experiments 
research on people rather than animals

Question 15

Banduras research

Procedure:

Findings:

Answer 15

Children put in a room and observed an adult be aggressive with a Bobo doll in one condition

In the other condition adult behaved in a non-aggressive way towards doll

Bandura observed the children’s behaviour and found that children in the aggressive condition were more likely to behave aggressively with the Bobo doll then children who are not

Boys are generally more aggressive than girls

We conclude the exposure to a model behaving aggressively results in observational learning and therefore aggressive behaviour

Question 16

Three strength of using a lab experiment

Answer 16

High control of extraneous variables can establish cause and effect

standardised procedures more easy to replicate findings

Objective and measurable data is testable

Question 17

Evaluation of social learning theory

Answer 17

Strength Reciprocal determinism
Strength Interactionist
Strength scientific credibility but over reliance
Strength Practical application

Question 18

Evaluation of social learning theory
A strength is that is Reciprocal determinism

Answer 18

A strength is that it is less deterministic than behaviourism

Bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism - influenced by our environment and no control over role models we are exposed to but have control over the behaviours we choose to perform

so suggest we do have free will

This is a strength as it is a more realistic approach then behaviourism as it recognises we do play a role in decision-making and therefore on our behaviour.

Question 19

Evaluation of social learning theory
Strength Interactionist approach

Answer 19

SLT supports the concept of classical and operant conditioning but also in mediational processes in between
This is a strength as it recognises cognitive factors INTERACT with the environment to influence behaviour.

However SLT ignores hormonal gender differences that may help to explain why free sample boys and what aggressive than girls in the Bobo doll experiment this is a limitation as it is accounted for in SLT

Question 20

Evaluation of social learning theory
A strength of SLT is that it uses lab experiments

Answer 20

Much of SLT relies on Lab experiments.
They therefore believe only behaviour that is observable and measurable should be measure
For example Bandura: Obsever aggressive acts by children in a controlled environment

This increases cause and effect , predictive validity and scientific credibility

Howeve some may argue that there is an over reliance on lab experiments

There are more demand characteristics in a lab therdore children may have been acting unnaturally, clear to hit the bobo doll because they thought that was the aim

Limitation as this question the generalisability of behaviour from lab to real life and whether observational learning does occur in real life or not.

Question 21

Evaluation of social learning theory
Real life application

Answer 21

Social learning theory can explain cultural differences in behaviour how children learn from individuals around them and how cultural norms and behaviours differ from one culture to another culture

This is a strength as he is able to explain cultural differences whereas biological approach can’t.